[In this part of the country we can get either, both in the SAME DAY!]

Snow Drift! NOT in a good mood tonight! The ice was full of crazy kids going every which way with no regard to anyone else. In 2 hours I got maybe 20 minutes of practice! Came off the ice to find our dressing room taken over by a hockey team (who shouldn't have been in there) and sat there like bumps on a log, forcing us to go find some other place to change. I do not tolerate rudness well! I can't believe I actually held my tongue and didn't throw them out!

Spring Flowers It was a nice warm day.

__________________
Dianne
(A.O.S.S.? Got it BAD! )

Snow Drift--Turned up at the rink on Saturday morning to find that the freestyle schedule had changed and the only session I could stay for didn't exist any more. (The week before, the rink had had a competition on Saturday that I didn't attend, so I had missed the notices of the change.) Luckily the skating director kindly let me skate on the freestyle group lesson ice so that my trip wasn't entirely in vain. (And though the ice hadn't been cut in 2 hours of group lessons, I was still able to manage some centered sit spins)

Another snow drift--spent many hours this weekend finishing up the taxes. The taxes didn't take long, it was all the preliminary calculations needed to enter info into the software!

Spring Flowers--On Sunday, I learned how to do a developpe spiral--fun but very hard!

Also, finished with the taxes and also my computer printing problems.

__________________
Ask me about becoming a bone marrow donor.
http://www.marrow.org
http://www.nmdp.org

Snow Drifts:

• It's Spring Break! Nuf said. (Can't do much moves with a bunch of kids, hockey guys and others...) Even FS sessionare gonna be a BEAR this week!!! However...

Spring Flowers:

• I did get some good work done though. And I think I'm starting to fix my RFO3's now. We'll see if it works on my lesson today! LFO3's still intacted, strong and fast! But let's see if I got enough edge in there.
• I landed a couple of flips.
• Finally met another fellow skater and her hubby from the skating newsgroup. This gal is from Singapore and is a pretty good skater who's on her doubles and her spins are pretty decent. (Annabel, I think you know who I'm talking about since she has met you.)
• Best one...my coaches are working on my getting a judge's critique on my Bronze Moves... from none other than the judge that failed me TWICE on the move. I want to see if I'm on the right track now or am I deluding myself from thinking I'll pass it easily in June. Should be interesting what comments I get from him this time.

__________________
Cheers,
jazzpants

11-04-2006: Shredded "Pre-Bronze FS for Life" Club Membership card!!!
Silver Moves is the next "Mission Impossible"
(Dare I try for Championship Adult Gold someday???)

Thank you for the support, you guys!!!

She's stayed with me! All the Mountain Cup people know her, and her (now) husband, too.

As for me:

Snowdrifts: Sir forgot his skates this morning, and had to go back for them! He made it on to the ice in time for our lesson, though, but we had only just warmed up together before it started - and at that, the coach was late. We were playing with hand-in-hand back crossovers when he arrived, but as Husband does cross strokes, not proper crossovers, I end up going way faster than him, so it was not a success.

By this time (08:00) the rink had filled up - there was nobody under 50 on the ice when we arrived at 07:15! Pity it didn't stay that way.

Worked on Dutch Waltz and Rhythm Blues, both of which he said we were out of time on - American music, what does he expect? We don't go out of time nearly so often with the proper music, but this one we have to concentrate all the time.

Then we did our free dance, to the music, and he was not complimentary.... don't blame him, I suppose. Trouble is, my left blade is so blunt, I simply can't do the 3-turn to time. And our spin is another one that has been eaten by the Evil Spin-Eating Monster that's haunting our rink just now. We did a better run-through after our lesson, but Sir's shoulders were far too stiff, even when he ran through his free programme.

Spring Flowers: Did some half-decent field moves - getting much faster on the back cross-rolls. Cross-cuts not too bad, either. And ran through my artistic a couple of times, also okay except the [expletive deleted] spin.

__________________
Mrs Redboots
~~~~~~~~
I love my computer because my friends live in it!
Ice dancers have lovely big curves!

I don't usually post in these either, but with our first test* coming up this Friday, skating is much on my mind...

Snow drifts: I had two FS sessions penciled in my calendar for yesterday, but one was rescheduled to a higher level due to a hinge boot demo, so my lesson got squeezed in before I was really warmed up. It's been interesting to discover just what mental state is ideal for dance--can't do it if I'm not thinking, but thinking too much seems to leave me like the centipede asked how he can walk with all those legs... Yesterday it wasn't there, so today's task is to see if I can get one last lesson in before the test.
I also got in practice at 0550 this morning, since my son was meeting his coach for a lesson. I'm not sure that one should skate just because one is at the rink...it'd take a week or two of getting up for that session to make it routine and be awake.

Spring Flowers: Well, at least it's skating.


*Pre-pre moves and FS for him; couple of pre dances for me. Just keeping him company, you know...

What is that????

Spring Flowers: Ice rink closes on Saturday!!! Never thought I'd be soo glad! I'm so tired right now.

Snow Drifts: Show rehearsals every night this week, dress rehearsal on Thursday, show on Friday, TWO shows on Saturday....did I mention I was tired?????

It's ok, I have summer plans for skating. I just need a break! (and I'm gonna swap out my blades and get used to ROCKIN"-maybe it will help my sit spins-wouldn't that be a kicker if I can sitspin on my new blades???)

__________________
Skate@Delaware
Ah, show skating!!! I do it for the glitter!

I know that in ballet a developpe is when an extension "develops" -- it starts with a plie (bend knees), then the working leg is lifted, knee first, as high as one can, then the working leg is straightened to full extension and the supporting leg (skating leg) straightens, too. Sound right?

Spring Flowers - Since the rink that I usually go to does not have evening open sessions during the week, I found one about 30 minutes from my house that does. Last night there were maybe 10 people total on the ice. it was great. In my lesson on Saturday we started working on 3-turns, I am really trying to work them out. Balance, even though I am a dancer, is not something I have ever really had so this is a real challenge for me. But I felt like they are really coming together. There were a couple there that felt amazing.

Snow Drifts - While 3 turns were going great for me on the right, on the left was another story altogehter. For some reason, anything on the left and me do not get along, but I keep plugging away. I am also still working on crossovers. I did one that felt great, but I have no idea what I did and have not been able to duplicate it. But it felt great when I did it.

I think I have figured out part of my problem with things. My ankles turn in so going to an outside edge takes some real concentration and it is not the most comfortable thing. But I keep trucking along. Also I am finding that my foot is cramping up big time. I put arch supports in my skates thinking it was that, but they are still cramping. I think i have figured it out though. Most of the time I am gripping the insides of my skates with my toes, do that long enough and your foot cramps. I need to stop that - LOL

Working on my backward swizzles and "half-swizzles" I find myself doing that to, but only with my left foot! It's like my toes are trying to get a grip on the ice - LOL! I have to consciously THINK "Relax the toes!" and make an effort to FEEL the whole sole of the boot.

I wonder if there are toenail scratches on the inside of my left boot?

__________________
Dianne
(A.O.S.S.? Got it BAD! )

Snow Drifts: My lesson was a little later than normal today because i'm on spring break so I didn't have to rush out the rink to get to class, and my coach needed to get her kids to the sitter, which isn't the snow drift. I got to the rink when the session started to warm up. Some woman was skating behind me, copying everything I was doing, although she's nowhere near being ready to do swing rolls or cross steps because she can't even glide on one foot. I know we all need to start somewhere, and I'm not that good myself, but she was right behind me, and tripping over herself and I was afraid she was going to fall on top of me. Maybe I'm just being mean, but shouldn't you be able to glide on one foot before you try doing swing rolls and cross steps?

Extra snow drift: my spins have vanished into thin air. I have absolutely no idea where they went. On Friday, they were fine, today, couldn't do a scratch if my life depended on it. My coach had me going back to a one foot spin from a standstill, and I still couldn't do that. Anybody know where they went?

Spring Flowers: I finally understand alternating 3 turns. My coach actually drew a little diagram with arrows and all this stuff, because I just couldn't understand how you're supposed to be able to step and whatnot, so I kind of got it. They're not great, or passing standard by any means, but it's coming. Inside alt. 3's are better, I was able to get halfway without stopping, which I'll take for now.

My coach also complimented my stroking, which was a first. I did my stroking while she was in a lesson before me, and she said she saw me doing some nice extension and toe point. When she's not watching, I do everything great.

I also finally switched the laces on my boot, so now they're finally long enough to tie a bow. And because this was my first lesson since i got my new skates, I finally got my coach to check the alignment, so now i can get my blades permenantly mounted.

Snow Drifts: Between 2 trips and 2 rounds of illness, I've been more or less off the ice for a good month! Have lost all my stamina/strength/endurance. Lesson tomorrow will be scarey! But I'm soooo glad to be back to my normal schedule.

Spring Flowers:
I've made the rash decision to do the pre-gold compulsories at our pro-am in June, which will be the Blues & Kilian. Blues is a good dance for me, so that part will be fun, & this will give me a looming deadline to suck it up & get the Kilian up to speed or else! It really has become fairly comfortable (without music)--now I just have to get the foot speed going--I lose it through the choctaw section, drop 2 beats, then pick it back up through the end pattern! I'm also going to see if my coach will do a short OD w/ me--probably he can't if everyone is asking him that, so we'll see. I could instead do a solo OD, which would also be fun & probably good for me.

Then--BIG news: yesterday I went ahead & dumped my partner--turns out he was thinking the same thing! (Not a big surprise, give his level of commitment) So we parted mutually, everyone's still friendly & happy, so I'm very relieved & extra happy to be back on my own! Just like being in a relationship--having a partner doesn't necessarily mean all is therefore right with the world. It's so hard to find a good match all around for a skating partner--I understand that much more clearly now.

I'm also seriously thinking about the Lake Placid Dance Competition in August.....would I dare to skate there? They have a solo CD/OD event this year, which I'd love to try---though I'd have to do a European for the CD--ugh! Would I look ridiculous? Would people point and laugh? I'd be skating with the Novice kids....mostly mid-teen age, 13-16-ish. (I'm 38 )

I think you should go! I don't think anyone would laugh at someone else at their level who loves dance as much as they do, but hey, if you get weird looks, ignore them! Skating in a comp is something you do for yourself, not for others. Go for it and have fun! (plus, you'll be surrounded by beautiful scenery)

Spring Flowers: Worked on program last night. We smoothed out some of the rough spots (so hopefully my transitions will look less awkward - per the comments from some of the NYI judges). I was pleasantly surprised to land my loop during each of the run-throughs of that section.

Snow drifts: Having spin difficulties. My coach has me using a slightly different spin technique than I'm used to, so it's a bit hard to adjust. My backspin is kind of wonky b/c instead of spinning from a standstill, I'm entering the spin from a back pivot, which I know will help with the change-foot spins, but it's a whole different approach. My sit spin is also a problem now - the coach who choreographed my program commented "the spins are growing up", to which I said, "yes, but they're throwing a temper tantrum" - lol!

The spiral in my program also doesn't look too good. I need to stretch this week! And stretching is probably the only skating-related activity I'll be able to do until next Monday - no lesson and practice this Thursday b/c of Passover and probably no skating Sat b/c of COI in the afternoon, and all the rinks are closed Sun b/c of Easter.

This is for yesterday:
Spring Flowers:
The first half of my new program is jelling together, and I'm getting the idea behind some of the new footwork in the program too!

Snow Showers:
Now doing the second half of the program with the music is a different story, but I'm not getting to muffled about it, since Secondary coach may change some of it tomorrow.

Total Blizzard:
When I got home from the rink last night and checked e-mail I got forwarded e-mails from both coaches regarding the summer skating schedule. The freestyle sessions at my rink will be 7am-10am Monday- Friday, with a Saturday session. Since I work from 7am-3:30 pm, I'm quite upset. Here I am with a new program, planning to re-take Bronze moves again this summer and KER-POW- there goes all the hard work!!
Take that as another reason some folks have a hard time moving up to Bronze!

__________________
Adult Nationals, 2009 "The Time of My Life"

Oh, Terri, that's rotten news for you. Is your work schedule flexible at all? That is, for one day a week, could you work later hours? (Sorry that I can't recall for sure if you've mentioned what kind of work you do--it's in a hospital, right? Would someone be willing to trade shifts with you once a week, or is that not permitted?)

If that wouldn't pan out, could you and your coach at least work on an off-ice regimen that would somehow mesh with the bronze moves, such as things that use similar weight shifts or torso shifts, and plyometrics for the power/continuous flow aspect? A while ago, I think someone posted a description of an off ice exercise for power threes that worked on the position of the arms and the shift of the torso.

__________________
Ask me about becoming a bone marrow donor.
http://www.marrow.org
http://www.nmdp.org

spring flowers:
my blades were sharpened pretty good, they were grabby for about 15 mins but after some stops on inside and outside edges they felt pretty good.

Managed to get good air position (crossed feet!!!) on a double loop (although I think its still underrotated )

snow showers:
I ran out of energy so fast... by the 1 hour and 30 min mark I just couldnt muster the strength to really jump up anymore and after some wimpy jumps I gave up and did spirals although the ice was really rough and yucky for any moves.

__________________
~
Tidesong

A friend of mine did this last event year.. She's 50 and has passed all her Pre-Silver dances... and she competed with the kids. She said only one parent looked at her strangely and then said "I didn't know old people could skate like that" -- to which she replied "I'm taking that as a compliment, so thank you!".

Everyone else just assumed she was a skater, so she belonged there. Go and have a great time!

Had my 'coffee club' session today...

Had an early stretch session... and since I am the youngest by far in the Weds group, I think I was one of the most flexy...

Snow Drifts:

• The ice was nice at first, but someone flooded it too quickly, and it hadnt frozen correctly - too quickly, and everytime someone toepicked it, fell over etc, a HUGE chunk was removed.. it was DISGUSTING!! And because of it, I couldnt do much at all afterwards... so I just tried basics.
• Then within 20mins of being on the ice, just doing stroking etc and attempting my forward crossovers I tripped on a massive rut in the ice, landed on both knees (OUCH!!!!!!!), and went sliding belly first across the ice... ouch ouch ouch... but got up, stretched some and went around and did the class... I put ice on it afterwards, and Ive got a pack on it now, but Ive still got two nice purple lumps on my knees.
• Forward crossovers... have I ever mentioned exactly how much I HATE forward crossovers? I practised and practised and practised some more... Im not getting the back foot pushing properly, and Im not crossing over enough, although I did bend my knees more and it seemed to help, but my leg muscles arent good enough yet to keep it up! Can someone please reassure me that this is one of those things that will just happen!?!
• I met someone who was doing spins and backward crossovers etc, but he couldnt skate on one foot, didnt know about edges... very worrisome!

Spring Flowers:

• My 3-turns are nice still which is a relief.
• Mohawks are ok, but need more practise.
• I tried to do edges (S figures up and down the rink on alternating feet and edges).. forwards is ok.. not fantastic but getting there.. backwards? no hope!
• I did my backwards crossovers!!!! YAY!!! I was going too fast, BUT I slowed them down and Im getting there! If only I was having as much success with forwards!
• The girl who skates with my hubby doing dance taught me the Canasta Tango, which was nice - to follow a girl doing the girls steps, rather than listening to a boy telling me ... she also taught me the swing roll (??), and was very excited that she managed to teach me something that hubby hadnt yet!
• OH! I also managed 4-rotations on my one foot spin!! YAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!! I stopped trying spins soon afterwards because I wanted to finish on a high!

__________________
--------------
-Erinna-
aka cassarilda

My Progress Report!
"Did I mention there is only ONE rink in Melbourne?!"
"If you're not flying, you're obviously not trying!!!" - courtsey of the guy who helped me up off the ice after my last spectacular and sore fall

Spring Flowers:

F xrolls feel nice, and F xovers have reappeared now I'm actually practising them

Snow Drifts:
Posture still causing major issues, and my coach is commenting on it. I'm having a hard enough time trying to fix it *off* the ice, let alone *on* it!

Consequently though, I toepicked myself twice practising the novice foxtrot and BI edges are iffy, as my weight's too far forward. B xovers are fine once I've got into the swing of them though, so I know I can do it. I just seem to get my feet mixed up whenever I stop keeping an eye on them...!

Generally an unstable feeling week though. A few days off is welcome for once.

__________________
"Every revolutionary idea seems to evoke three stages of reaction. They may be summed up by the phrases:
(1) It's completely impossible.
(2) It's possible, but it's not worth doing.
(3) I said it was a good idea all along."
- Arthur C Clarke

At one club where I skated last winter, the oldest skater was about 16 and I was 20 years older than the oldest coach! (I'm 56) It took awhile to get used to being "the fat old lady on skates" but I found the dressing room talk amusing - reminded me of high school! Once the young hot-shots realized the old broad was really determined to re-learn figure skating I found the girls to be very friendly. Sometimes parents would hesitate at the boards and watch for awhile - I'd just smile and keep skating. If they stared too much, I'd skate over and suggest they bring their skates next time

__________________
Dianne
(A.O.S.S.? Got it BAD! )

Sounds just like me! Actually managed to get 2 ladies into lessons and they have had a blast!!

I have also become the "rink mom" who is the go-to person for band-aids, tissues, hair bands, etc. and a good listen. Also to help if there are "hockey bullies" on public ice (I know most of the dads).

Isn't the teen-talk funny?????

__________________
Skate@Delaware
Ah, show skating!!! I do it for the glitter!

Spring Flowers:
The coach actually said my back cross-rolls were "very good"!!!!! Praise indeed..... not, of course, testable yet, he doesn't think, as I am not yet actually putting my blade down on a back outside edge, but putting it down rather flat and rocking over. And he noticed the judge comment on just that fault in the last set of tests. You note, he didn't say the judge failed the skater for it, just that he or she commented on it!

He said the back cross-cuts were "okay - not very good, not bad, improving". Which they are. Far too flat, still, even I am aware of that! But they are on better edges than they used to be, and I think was improving them by the end of my practice.

Did a really quite good Canadian Cha-cha with Husband; we covered far more ice than normal. And I think we stayed in time to the music, although I wouldn't swear to it. And he went wrong in the Swing Dance, tee hee.

Both our skates have gone to be sharpened; Coach2 is coming in at 08:00 tomorrow, and I know that L, K, Husband and I all want ours back, to say nothing of the kids....

Snow Showers: Not a lot, really. Coach tried to fix my spins, and we even worked a little on the backspin (I hadn't known the correct entry - mine was a bit "suck it and see", and far easier as a changefoot!). I can feel what I'm doing wrong in the spin now (not over my blade enough), but not sure I can fix it yet. Will try.

__________________
Mrs Redboots
~~~~~~~~
I love my computer because my friends live in it!
Ice dancers have lovely big curves!

LOL! Yes, there are a couple of girls who love to "talk my ear off" now. The "teen-talk" causes me flash-backs!

I never had children of my own so I am enjoying being "rink Mom"!

__________________
Dianne
(A.O.S.S.? Got it BAD! )

flowers: Decided on an interpretive program for France. Watching the Olympics and Worlds, I really miss seeing programs with long edges and moves held out. Everything is so fast now to cram in as much difficulty as possible. So I'm doing a simple program with edges and hopefully flow!

Big news: may have a new member of the family. I offered to foster another dog, and she might be staying with us. She's a 4 1/2 pound chihuahua, and I've named her Mabel.

__________________
Recycle Love - Adopt a homeless pet

That stinks! But aren't there a couple of other rinks in your area? Even if they're not as convenient, will it be possible to skate at them once or twice a week in addition to the Saturday session at your regular rink?

__________________
Where are those knives when I need them?
----------------------------------
I need a detachable left foot!

Snow drifts:

Forward Power 3's:

THAT BLIMIN' $*@%^& choctaw!!!

(Nuf said!)

Spring Flower:

NUTTIN!!! (We've got PLENTY of rain!!! Could we please have some sun so we can see some Spring flowers now!?!?!!)

__________________
Cheers,
jazzpants

11-04-2006: Shredded "Pre-Bronze FS for Life" Club Membership card!!!
Silver Moves is the next "Mission Impossible"
(Dare I try for Championship Adult Gold someday???)

Thank you for the support, you guys!!!